2024-04-04-eEdition

PAGE 2 THE CATHOLIC WEEK APRIL 5, 2024 The Catholic Week APRIL 5, 2024 Volume 90, Number 07 Official Publication of the Archdiocese of Mobile Published since 1934 The Catholic Week (USPS 094-660) is published bi-weekly by the Archdiocese of Mobile 356 Government Street Mobile, AL 36602 Periodical Postage Paid at Mobile, Alabama —POSTMASTER— Send address changes to: The Catholic Week, PO Box 349, Mobile, AL 36601 Mobile P.S. Form 3541-N —PUBLISHER— Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi —EDITOR— Robert W. Herbst 251-434-1544 rherbst@mobarch.org —PRODUCTION— Pamela C. Wheeler 251-434-1545 tcw@mobarch.org —ADVERTISING— Claudia T. Sims 251-434-1543 csims@mobarch.org —OFFICE HOURS— 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday —PHONE NUMBERS— 251-432-3529 FAX: 251-434-1547 —OFFICE ADDRESS— 356 Government Street Mobile, Alabama —MAILING ADDRESS— PO Box 349 • Mobile AL 36601 —WEBSITE— mobarch.org/thecatholicweek —ONLINE EDITION— www.mobarch.org —SUBSCRIPTIONS— Claudia T. Sims 251-434-1543 csims@mobarch.org $22 out-of-parish, and $24 out-of- state. Address all subscription cor- respondence to The Catholic Week , PO Box 349, Mobile AL 36601. When changing address, renewing or inquiring about a subscription, customer should include a recent address label with old address and new address and allow four weeks for address change to take effect. DEADLINES for APRIL 19, 2024 News copy and photos: APRIL 9, 2024, NOON Advertising Camera-ready Ads: APRIL 9, 2024, NOON The Office for the Protection of Minors and Adults Reports of abuse should be made to civil authorities in your county. If the report involves a member of the clergy, Archdiocesan employee or lay volunteer, please also notify the Office for the Protection of Minors and Adults at 251-434-1559. If the report of abuse involves a bishop, please notify the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service at ReportBishopAbuse.org or 1-800-276-1562. The Archdiocesan Child Protection Policy can be found at the websites mobarch.org or protection.mobarch.org Baldwin/Escambia Deanery St. Lawrence Parish—7 p.m. ( 2 nd Tuesday of most months) April 9, May 14, no training June-July Mobile Deanery St. Dominic Parish—7 p.m. ( 4 th Wednesday of most months) April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24 Montgomery Deanery Montgomery Catholic High—6:30 p.m. ( 4 th Wednesday of most months) April 24, May 22, no training June-July Dothan Deanery Training sessions are conducted on an “as needed” basis. Contact your pastor in the Dothan area for more information. Archdiocese of Mobile. I have been blessed and continue to be blessed by serving the people of this wonderful archdiocese,” Archbishop Rodi said. “The Holy Spirit works powerfully in this archdiocese and works through the people of the arch- diocese. It is a privilege to serve as shepherd of this archdiocese to praise God, to serve neighbor and together to grow in faith.” The archdiocese encom- passes 22,969 square miles and includes the lower 28 coun- ties of the state of Alabama. The first parish in Mobile was founded on July 20, 1703. The Archdiocese of Mobile was established in 1825 as the Vicariate-Apostolic of Alabama and the Floridas in 1825 and became the Diocese of Mobile in 1829. The name was changed to the Diocese of Mobile- Birmingham on July 9, 1954, and was redesignated on June 28, 1969. It was established as the Archdiocese of Mobile on Nov. 16, 1980. Archbishop Rodi is the second Archbishop of Mobile. Below is information ac- cording to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding archbishops: How is a new archbishop chosen? Canon 401 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law states that all bishops must submit their resignation to the Pope at the age of 75.The pope can accept their resignation at that time, or ask them to stay on until their successor is chosen. All aspects of the process of choosing a successor are sup- posed to be confidential, but there are some things that are known.The papal nuncio will present a list of candidates for investigation to (in the case of the U.S.) the Congregation of the Bishops in the Roman Curia.The congregation then reports to the pope, who makes the final decision. Does the new archbishop have to be a bishop already? Though it happens very rarely, a newly-named archbish- op need not be a bishop first. In this case, the new archbishop would need to be ordained as a bishop before he could be installed as an archbishop. What's the difference between an archbishop and a bishop? An archbishop is the head of diocese that is considered to be particularly important for some reason.The diocese is then des- ignated as an “archdiocese” and its bishop is designated as an “archbishop.” In sacred matters, an archbishop is the equivalent of a bishop. An archbishop has no authority over the bishops in the other dioceses of his area, but the archbishop is the one who calls the bishops together to discuss issues and to remain in communication with one another. Letter From page 1 CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, OPELIKA Information courtesy of Catholic Social Services The newest Catholic Social Services’ Office in Opelika provided services to 766 households consisting of 1,865 people in its first full year of operation. Funded by the Catholic Charities’ campaign, the CSS Opelika office opened in November 2022. Located one mile from the interstate, the office serves Lee, Macon and Russell County residents who were previously served by Catholic Social Services in Montgomery.Tyler Kirsch, formerly of the Montgomery Office, serves as the current Lee County CSS Director. CSS provides limited financial/material assistance to those persons who are expe- riencing difficulty meeting basic needs for themselves or their families. All clients re- questing assistance meet with a case worker who assesses their needs and available resources.The most frequent request received is for utility assistance, followed by food and rent.Many clients have experienced loss of a job, a serious health condition, divorce, death within their families, or fleeing domestic abuse making it difficult to make ends meet with the temporary loss of income. Last year, CSS also provided families with beds, medication, household appli- ances, diapers, clothing,Thanksgiving din- ners, Christmas gifts for local seniors plus restored a water line to a home. Being fluent in Spanish, receptionist Ta- tiana Rosario is able to assist and translate for clients whose primary language is Span- ish. Mrs.Tiffany Prickett and Mr. Kirsch conduct client assessments and case work. Donations of nonperishable food, diapers, baby wipes, and new in-season clothing as well as cash contributions are welcome. CSS is grateful for the encouraging sup- port of local citizens and other community agencies who have been so welcoming. The office 2200 Gateway Drive, Suite A, in Opelika is open from 8:30 a.m.-Noon and 1-4:30 p.m. It is closed from noon-1 p.m. for lunch. Appointments are preferred but most walk-ins can be accommodated. To schedule an appointment, call 334-363- 0698. CSS serving those aroundOpelika Photo courtesy of Catholic Social Services Catholic Social Services' newest office in Opelika opened in November 2022.